“You look nice.”
Why had she said that? When had she lost all control of her brain? What was wrong with her?
Eva arched an eyebrow, gray eyes meeting Lily’s, and she hoped Eva couldn’t tell what she was thinking. “You look acceptable.”
Lily snorted. “Gee, thanks.” She needed to keep Eva talking, because the insults might uncloud her mind. “Though I guess that’s a compliment, coming from you.”
“You can interpret it that way if you like.”
Lily breathed out a sigh of relief when Mei dropped into the seat beside her and handed over a large glass. “I asked him to put in a generous amount of gin,” Mei said, sipping from her daiquiri. “You’re welcome.”
“Thank you.” Lily relaxed once she was surrounded by the others—it almost felt like a normal Friday night at the bar. Almost, because though she was quiet, sipping from a martini, Eva was there. Lily felt her presence even when absorbed in conversation with Mei and Andrew.
The tap of metal on glass echoed over the sound of chatter, and everyone turned toward the stage at the rear of the dance floor, where David Blake was holding a microphone.
“Karaoke!” Someone shouted, resulting in a few chuckles around the room.
“No one wants to hear that, trust me,” David said, his laugh grating on Lily’s nerves. “I won’t talk for long, because I know the only reason you’re all here is for the free booze.”
“Damn straight!” Another voice called, and David’s smile widened.
“It sounds like some of you have already well and truly started the party. First, I want to thank each and every one of you for your hard work this semester. It’s always a challenge to come back from the summer break and start all over again. We’ve made great progress these last few months—”
“I’ve got a fun drinking game for you,” Mei said, leaning close to speak into Lily’s ear. “Take a sip every time he says the words ‘progress’ or ‘thanks’; I bet you’ll have finished your gin by the time he’s done.”
“But he said it would be short.”
“He says that every year, and every year it’s a lie.”
Sure enough, by the time he wrapped up, Lily’s drink was nearly gone.
“Told you,” Mei said, setting her empty glass on the table. “Every time.”
“I guess it’s my turn to get this round,” Lily said, draining the last of her gin. “Does anyone else want a refill?”
When they all shook their heads, Lily rose to her feet. Her knees wobbled, and she should have eaten something more than toast before she came out, but at least getting drunk wouldn’t be expensive.
Sure enough, by the time she was on her fourth gin and tonic, everything was fuzzy around the edges. Mei dragged her to dance to the awful music the DJ played, but Lily was drunk enough not to care, her inhibitions lowered and enjoying herself more than she thought she would.
“I’m going to go get some air,” she said to Mei after the fifth song, sweat beading at her brow.
“Hurry back—I’m not done with you yet.”
* * *
Eva slipped out without anyone noticing.
In fact, the only person who seemed to have noticed her all night was Lily Cross, her gaze flitting to Eva whenever there was a lull in conversation. Eva hadn’t missed the way it had tracked over her skin, lingering at the swell of her breasts, growing more brazen with every drink she emptied.
It was a fabulous dress, so Eva couldn’t exactly blame her.
And Eva had found her own gaze lingering more than once. Out of her usual frumpy wardrobe and in a gorgeous red dress with a dangerously low neckline, Lily had captured Eva’s attention.
Eva had stopped drinking after her third martini, blaming the alcohol for the way she kept being drawn to the sway of Lily’s hips on the dance floor.
Maybe it had been too long since she got laid. The words sounded suspiciously like Kate, and Eva shook her head.
The air outside the bar was cold, and Eva zipped her jacket up to her chin as she opened the Uber app on her phone. “Fifteen-minute wait time?” Eva said, her breath fogging in the air. “Unbelievable.” It must be a busy Friday night. She could go back inside, where she’d be warm at least, but the thought of spending another moment around her colleagues was unpleasant.
